Universal joint for power transmission.



w. E, WILLIAMS.

UNIVERSAL JOINT FOR POWER TRANSMISSION.

7 APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. I9I6.

1,252,068. v Patented Jm. 1,1918.

2 BHEETVSKBET 11 16 I .5 i

W. E. WILHAMSL SAL )UWT FUR POWER TBA APPUCATHJN FILED MAY 24,19l6. k

Patented Jan. 1,1918.

UNIVER NSBHSSION.

- 2 SEEETS'BHEET 2.

dust and dirt and conserve the oi or WILLIAM naa's'rus WILLIAMS, 0! onicaeo, 1LLmoIs.

[0, all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that 1, 'WILLIAM ERASTUS WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at. Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Universal Joints for Power Transmission, of which the followin L;

19-49, Fig. 18. i

is a specification.

The object of my invention is to make a universal joint that will have a very small number of fitted part and wearing surfaces and yet will be efiicient and durable; and a'furthe'r object is to improve the details of construction in such ,manner as to lessen the 'cost of assembling'and making the arts and to savewear on the working sur aces, and to better protect the working arts from rease used with the joint for lubrication. 'I e inventionc'onsists in the constructions set forth in the claims hereof. Reference will be had in drawings in which:

igure 1 is a side elevation of the joint SllQWlIlg certain parts of the mechanism in dotted lines. I Fig. 2-is a view similar to Fig; 1 'but'showmg the casing in section and the line of sight being at right angles to that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view on a smaller scale showin the left end elevation of the devices of F1 s; l and 2.

g. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 looking 1 from the right end.

Fig. '5 isa view on a small scale of the plan-of the gasket used.

Figit is an edge view of the devices of V Fi .-5. igs 7 is aside. elevation of the main flange plate.

3 tionof arrows 99 of Fig. 8.

10 and'll are, respectively, a-"plan and an elevation of "a sleeve yoke.

' Fig. 12' is an edge view of the trunnion. block" with the bushings mounted" theredn ready for assembly.

"Fig: 13'is a view at'right angles to that of Fig '12.

'ig. 14 is avie'vvsimilar to those bfFi'gs; 12 and lfi' showing' the trunnionblock before the bushings are placedon' the 'tr'unni'ons.

Specification of Iietters Patent.

to the accompanywith hearing holes 11 and; curved flanges 12 at the' base.

UNIVERSAL JOINT FOR POWER TRANSMISSION.

Fig. 16 is a sectional View on line 16 1-6 of Fig. 11. Fig. 17 is a transverse section through one ofthe bushings on line 17 -17 of Fig. 18.

Fig. 18 is aplan of the parts seen in Fi 17. r

ig. 19, is a transverse view on theline Fig. 20 is a view analogous to Fig. 2, showing a modified form when the casing'is removed.

Fig. 21 is a view partly in section on the line 21- 21.

Besides simplicity of construction, lubrication and protection from dust, the most desirable feature in a joint is resistance to wear and severe shocks. I i

- As relates towear it is desirable tomake the wearing parts so that they maybe heat treated and hardened and yet be As to durability and shocks a is desirable rather tohave all loads transmitted across sol1d metal to solid metal, which when first made to right size will not tend to become loose excepting b natural wear. 1

I accompllsh t ese desirable features by the constructions shown. In the drawings 1 indicates a flange die, 2 its companion flange and 3 a sleeve yolie.

The flange yoke 1 is'pro'vided with horns g; which support in holes 5 the bearingbushingsfi. Similar horns 7 on the sleeve oke other set of bushings 6.

vided with trunnion hearings or journal '10 integral with the 'block as it is made aria drop forging inone piece having the trunnlons turned onthe four-corners;

bearing bushings 6- are shownv inns tail" lILFl gS. 17 18 and-19 andareprovidd Patented J an. 1. 191:8. Application filed May 24, 1916. Serial No. 99,617.

tightly fit ed when amembledare provided with ho1es8 that sup ortin- 12'have {ribs-13 on their outermargins: e...

sides of the bushings are out'ofi jasqiswilidij i The oles f the bushings onQthejshortfdianieter;rand

1 5 ands-iii thehomsareinade' ust wideenoughacross the entranee to adof the same diameter as the curved ends 15 of the bushings, and on the inside of the horns'there is a circular groove 16 adapted to fit the ribs 13 of the bushings. Notches 5 17 are cut out at the back of the holes 5 and 8 just the depth of the ribs 13 to permit the entry of the ribs in'assembling the parts. lVhen the parts are to be assembled the bushings G are placed on the trunnions 10 in 10 the positions shown by Figs. 12 and 13 at a time when the flange and sleeve yokes are in relative'positions as shown by Figs. 7 and 10' and 8 and 11, then the parts are pushed together entering the bushings to 15 their respective holes in the horns while their long diameters are lying in-thc axis of the parts. After the bushings are entered, they are revolved 90 degrees which brings the long diameters to fit the circularpart of the holes 5 and 8 and makes a secure fit in the directions of the thrusts of the parts in use.

When the bushings are seated iuth'c horns they are secured against: rotation by means of two small rivets 1 passing through holes 18 in the horn ends and alongside the flanges 12 of the bushings in the little recesses 20.

In place of the rivets it!) I may use any other suitable means tor securing the bush ings from rotative displacement" In Figs. 20 and 21 I show small bolts onscrews 21 extending. across the open ends of the horns and while they secure the bushings in place they also tie across the open ends of the horns.

} The ribs 13 on flanges 12 of the'bushings tieacross the openings 5 and 8 and aid in strengtheningthe parts when assembled. The companion flange 2 is simply the means of connecting the shaft on that side by-means of the socket 22 into which the shaft is fixed and the flange also closes the open end 23 of the flange yoke 1.

Lubrication of working parts like joints is somewhat troublesome'since the centrifugal action'in running throws out the lubricant from the wearing surfaces and through the seams of the vessel holding the lubricant, To hold in the lubricant it is common" to inclose the joint in a casing somewhat s1m1lar.towhat I use but differing in details. The inside casing is indicated by 24:

which has a hemispherically shaped end 25 working in an outside shell or cup '26. The

shell 24 is provided with a flange 27 shaped.

packing ring 32 and the casing 26 itself is held in place by the lock nut 83 which is screwed on to the sleeve yoke. A suitable dust cap and packing are provided at the end as indicated by 34.

The centrifugal pressures developed in rimning are so great sometimes that almost no jointed scam of ordinary construction willseciu'ely retain the oil or grease used in these joints and generally the lubricant that is placed in the casing will not long remain in quantity more than what will fill the annular spacc betwee the limits of the hole 23 and the opening $55, the centrifugal action holding out into that spacethe lubricant which is ordinarily more or less stiff grease.

Heretoforc it has been the practice to provide a hole in the casing 21 closed with a screw cap to allow means for filling the casing with grease. This hole is usually a source of escape for the grease under centrifugal pressure sillCU the screw threads do not usually fit tightly. In place of making a hole in the thin wall of casing 27h I proride a hole 30 in the companion flange which closed by a screw 37 The hole extends down below the edge of and into aperture 23 of flange yoke 1, thus bringing the inside of the orifice within the opening .or diameter 35 of the casing so that even if the screw 3? is not tight the centrifugal action cannot act to drive the lubricant that Way beyond the small diameter of hole 23.

I aim by means of my gasket 29 and reinforcing ring 30 to make the casing so tight against centrifugal discharge of the lubricant that: I will retain a sufficient quan tity for a much longer time than has hereto- :fore b en possible. i i

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, driving yoke, a trunnion block, a driven yoke, and bearing bushings connecting the yokes and block and serving as journals for the trunnions,-said bushings being circular in cross section but flattened on two; sides said yokes being provided with openings; adapted to receive and closely embrace the; curved surfaces of the bushings, but open"11'5 on one side so far as to allow the flattened bushings to enter when properly turned, whereby the parts may be assembled by longitudinal movement when the bushings are seated on the trunnions, and when home, .120

the bushings maybe revolved locking the parts together.

2. In a device ofthe class described, the combination with a driving yoke,-a trans verse block, and a driven yoke, of bearlng bnshings inserted in the yokes as journals for the trunmons. respectively, the bush ingsbelng primarily circular in cross sect1on and flattened on two opposite SlLlJS, and

said #okes bein )rovided with recesses in 1130' trunnions to the yokes, said bushings which the bushings fit and which have on one side an opening equal in width to the distance between the flattened sides of the bushings, whereby the bushings-seated on the tr'unnions, may be properly turned, passed laterally into their recesses in the y'olres and turned to prevent withdrawal. 3.; n a device of the class described, a driving oke, a; trunnion block, a driven yoke in bearing bushings connecting the eing of general cylindrical form but flattened on two sides and provided with circular ribbed flanges on their bases, said 'yokes being provided' with holes cylindrical in 'form and Mia tedto fit closely the cylindrical surface of t e bushings, and having on one side an openin e ual in width to the distance between t e attened sides of the bushing and with circular grooves adapted to register with thecircular ribs on the bushings whereby a tie is formed across said holes.

In a device of the class described, a

driving c1yoke, a trunnion block, a driven yoke an bearing bushings connectin the trunnions to the yokes, said bushings eing of general cylindrical form but flattened on two sides and provided with circular ribbed flanges on their bases, said yokes'being-,providedwith cylindrical holes adapted w fit the cylindrical surface of the bushings, and open at one side to a width equal to the distance between 'the flattened sides of ,the bushings and with circular grooves adapted to register with the circular ribs on the bush in whereby a tie is formed across said he es; and means for locking the bushings against rotation.

5. The combination with two yokes-provided with trunnion-receiving openings, of a block provided with trunnions smaller than said openings, and non-cylindrical sleevesmounted on the trunnions respectively and adaptedto be secured in said openings by rotation upon their trunnions.

6. The combination with two yokes provided with trunnion-receiving openings, of a trunnion block having its 'trunnions smaller than said o1')cnings, non-cylindrical bushings mounted in said openings, encircling the trunnio-ns, respectively, and provided at their inner-ends with flanges to re sist radial displacement.

7. The combination with two yokes-provided with trunnion bushing openings and with flange-receiving recesses, of a trunnion block having trunnions smaller than said openings, externally flattened trunnion bu'sh ings mounted on the tru'unions, fitting as to 60. nonsfluttenml portions in said openings, and

provided willnihinges to engage in said recesses. resisting radial displacement and slsi'cng'tlwmiug the yolccs. I

8. In a device of the class described, a driving yok-e,.-a trunnion block, a driven cross section each havin on their. trunnions, the bled and being so shape yoke, and bearing bushings connecting the arts, said bearing bushin B being circular 1n cross section but flatten on the sides and provided with ribbed flanges, and said yoke being provided with holes of circular cross section and with circular grooves adapted to receive the ribs of said flanges, substan tially as set forth.

9. In devices of the class described, the combination with driving and driven yokes each havin a hole of cylindrical cross section lateral y opened by a slot, in its wall, of

a width less than the-diameter of the hole,. of a trunnion block with trunnions smaller mounted on the trunnions, fitting said holes,

and flattened to enter said slots when properly'turned, and insertible bodies locking the bushings against rotation.

11. In a device of the class described, the,

combination with driving and. driven yokes provided with trunnion holes of circular its wall cut away on one sideto form a s 0t of a width less than the diameter of the hole, of ,a block havingtrunni'ons smaller than said holes, bushin s mounted on the trunnions, respectively, primarily fitting the corresponding holes but flattened to permit them to pass through said slots, and members extending across the bushing seats to lock the bushings against rotation.

12. In a device of the class described, av driving yoke, a trunnion block, a driven yoke and bea'r'in -bushings connecting the parts, said yokes )ell'l provided with seats open to receive the ushings when the are in place on their trunnions, the parts ein assembled and being so she ed that partia ro- 'tation of the bushings locs them-in place.

13. In a device of the class described,a driving yoke, a trunnion block, a driven yoke and beariin r bushings connecting the pants, said yokes ein I provided with seats open to receive the bus iings when they are in place arts being assemthat partial tion of the bushings locks theininplace, with means for locking the bushing from rotation when adjusted. p

14. In a device ofthc class described, a driving yoke, a trunnion block, a driven yoke and bearing bushings connecting the parts,

said jokes being provided with seats open to receive the bushings when they are 11'! place on their trunnions, the parts being as- Bembled and being so shaped that partial r0- tation of the bushings locks them in plane, and n'ieans extendil'ig across the iMlHllll'lg seats for loeking the lmshings against displace nient.

15. In a device of the elass'described, a driving yoke, a trunnion block, a driven yoke and bearil'ig bushingseonneeting the parts, said bushings being eireular in eross section but. flattened 011 the sides and provided with ribbed flanges, said yokes being provided with seatsvfor the bushings and their ribbed flanges, but lateral-1y open to allow entrance of the flattened bnehings when properly turned, Said bushings being adapted to revolve in the seats in the yoke and 'hereby engage the flanges 01 the. bushings in a. position binding; aeroex the sides ofthe-aeata.

Hi In a device of the class: ('ilwPlibGti a (ll-hing, yoke, a trunnion block, a driven yoke and bearing bushings eonneeting the parts,

-said bushings being eireular in cross sectionbut tlaltelwd on Lhesides and provided with ribbed flanges, said yokes provided with seatn' Circular .in eross section for the busl'iing$' and their ribbed. flanges, but; laterally Open Witnesses M. L. \VILLIA'MS, H. Minn-in. 

